Rarely do I talk about something outside Chicago with the Deep Dish, but recent events, perhaps inspired by events in Chicago, warrant two cents in the rant jar. But first….
THOUGHTS ON THE FIRE: Things do need to change in the words of Francisco Calvo. Ironically, a lack of changes to the roster apart from trading Djordje Mihailovic and a lack of changing it up and giving the youngsters a chance has led to a lack of change in the Fire’s fortunes.
The starting lineup against Philadelphia did not have a single player under the age of 25. Conversely, the bench had just one player over that age (Alvardo Medran who had previously started every match under Raphael Wicky). Again, this frustration of not playing youngsters has existed for years with the Fire and that frustration will only grow unless Wicky, assistants Frank Klopas and David Zdrilic, sporting director Georg Heitz, and technical director Sebastian Pelzer begin trusting the youngsters and give them the vital experience to contribute.
Otherwise, if result continue to go the way they are and the club continues to not play the youngsters as a means to change the results, then it will be up to owner Joe Mansueto to make the needed changes to the technical staff sooner than later.
WAS THIS LOGO CHANGE REALLY NECESSARY?: Borrowing a page from Sporting Kansas City’s book, Columbus Crew changes its official name and logo to Columbus SC in the lead up to opening their new stadium. The Crew nickname will still be part of official marketing by the club, but no longer part of the logo. When Children’s Mercy Park was built in 2011, the Kansas City Wizards became Sporting Kansas City and was well-received.
Columbus’s name and logo change is an example of stupid following stupid. In this case, the Fire’s logo change which was not well-received (and will thankfully change after this season) at all and Montreal Impact’s transformation to CF Montreal whose logo must have been inspired by both BMO and the Royal Bank of Scotland (not a compliment). It was a totally unnecessary move and to some it will be a slap in the face as it comes shortly after the “Save the Crew” campaign and after the Crew won MLS Cup last season in Columbus.
If it was a return to the old logo form 1996, or something that includes the Crew nickname, I may have been more open to it. However, this logo is a new entrant to the race to the bottom after the Fire and CF Montreal.
